The Dallas daily herald. [volume] (Dallas, Tex.) 1873-1887, 1887-07-07
A TOUCH OF NATURE.

hOulderS, ana tnlsi Wlun cdllco
yen more faded, completed her
attire.
cps were slow, but not hesita-
Judging altogether from her
appearance, one would scarce
de her aged outline was due to
(Still there was about her a
box, that caught the eye OF jim
Ioll, and held it.
We may say, and without fear OF
contradiction from any one who knew
him, that in all Missouri there were
few larger-hearted men than this same
Jim Carroll. But it was also true that
in all that region there were not many
who could be less charitable to their
enemies, or, when injured, longer hold
resentment.
Carroll was single man. He look
ed young for his years, for although he
was but four years short OF fifty, one
would hardly take him to beforty.
He had fought bravely during the
war, and was bitter politician after
the service After leaving the army,
he had divided his time equally be-
tween locating long lines OF railroad
in the far West, and shorter ones near
er home.
Just now he was on his way to n
preliminary survey, which he, with
Others, were making near by His as
eistants had preceded him few rods,
and he was hurrying TO overtake them,
when the woman took his attention.
Thespot he was passing and in which
she stood, was small enclosed open
ing in the pines, which served the pur-
pose OF acountry buryingground. Per
haps two dozen graves were in it, some
neglected, some with bright flowers pro
fusely growing above them, while 9th
ers-a few only--were marked with
stones. These were all OF a humble
pattern, and near one OF the plainest
was the woman.
The grave by which she stood, and.
the one which the stone marked, was a
long one, moss-gown, and till very re-
Gently neglected. Close beside it was a
little grave, and Just beyond it, anoth-
err, not so small as the second, nor
nearly as large asthe first.
The woman had evidently been there
some time, for little handfuls OF weeds
were lying between thegraves and along
the path near them. Besides, small
handful OF bright wild flowers lay even
" along on the centre of each.
Just now she seemed busy rolling
two common stones to the heads OF
the unmarked graves. One she had
already placed in position, or nearly
so, and was now working at the other,
which was apparently too heavy for
her. When Carroll saw this, he at
once laid down his transit, and step
ped up to the fence.
"Can help you any, madam" he
asked, putting his hands on the top
rail.
The woman started as he spoke and
turned a half-hightened face towards
him.
IL thought maybe | could help you
with the stone" he continued. clam
sorry if startled you"
Excuse me, sir, F" she replied. 81
thought ! was alone, but ii you can
help me, | shall be greatly Obliged,
though | would not wish to trouble
you"
"Nothing could give me more pleas
ure. madam" and with this the warm
hearted man came up to the grave,
and with ease tipped the stone on one
edge at the head OF it.
"What were you going to do with
those?" he asked, pointing to the
smaller ones, evidently freshly taken
out of the ground. This he asked
partly from n desire to further assist
her. and partly from an underlined
something that made him wish to
know more oil the humble graves and
their mourner.
Thank You. sir, but II j hasten, j
think shall have time. j wished to
Law them along the grass, so If never
come again, twill show the palmer
where they are. Perhaps twould do
no harm. sir. but it seems hard to
have them stepped upon"
"If your time be short, allow me TO
help you. please. shall be only too
clad. and without waitingfurther, Car
roll picked up an old basket and hast
ened to bring the stones to the graves.
I'm a short time he had them all there,
and together they laid them along the
sides OF tho little graves, and at the
foot OF them.
AT first the woman seemed not a
little embarrassed at the stranger 5
presence. but as he kindly assisted her
With the stone and sod. a brighter